"We are here", said the woman, snapping Mia out of her trance. The neighborhood was clean, but her house wasn't that huge.
" Wow"!! Mia blurted that out loud.
So that is how outside looked like.
"Mia, am Magaretta, just call me Gretta", the woman said, and Mia nodded her head.
Ana pointed at her house, it was the small one.
It wasn't a surprise that Mia guessed the right house, she always felt different, uncanny and guess correctly. It made people at the orphanage think she was cheating during exams.
Greta carried Mia's stuff into the house, Mia hesitated to follow her inside, but eventually did, since she was left with no other option.
As she expected, Greta's house was sparkling clean. " Come with me upstairs, your room is upstairs, " Greta said.
'Why is she always smiling?' Mia thought, as she followed her.
Her room was tidy, not small not big but she liked it. It was perfect. But why was this woman bothering with a useless girl like her? She wondered. 'There are no free lunches in this world' she thought as there was possibly something the woman wanted from her.
"Thanks Mrs Magaretta," Mia managed to say. "If you need anything, you may come downstairs at me any time. You need to rest." Of course Mia had to play along with the woman's kindness, to know what are her true intentions.
Greta brought food for Mia and found her asleep, a smile crossed her face, as she quietly put food on a table in her room.
It was already dusk, so Greta went to sleep too, but she couldn't. 'She is so precious, Greta thought. So beautiful, the orphanage just lost a special gem.
Before she knew it, morning crept in as she pondered in bed.
A knock was heard on the door, and Greta knew who it was, went past the living room and opened the door.
"Care for some cookies Greta?" said a young boy. He was her neighbour , and would bring cookies everyday. Many kids in her neighborhood liked Mrs Magaretta because she was the kindest person ever.
"Come in Zane," Greta said as Zane stepped inside. "You look happier than usual Greta, any news?" Zane said curious.
"I finally adopted", Greta said as Zane jumped in joy. They were the closest neighbours. Though he was just a chirpy young boy.
" A boy?" Zane asked expectantly.
"No, a special girl," Greta said and Zane only managed to say "Oh". He somehow looked disappointed, since he thought he could only play with a boy.
" You'll meet her later, now she's asleep. Come during lunch time."
"Okay," Zane said and left.
Mia woke up and found the food, she didn't care that it was cold, she ate it up hungrily. She was often starved at the orphanage, as the other girls took her food from her. Sometimes she would starve herself because of low self-esteem being in front of people while eating alone.
She descended the stairs and found Magaretta sipping tea. "Morning sunshine", Greta said as she smiled. That was rather odd for someone to greet her, but she just played along with the woman's "kindness".
" Morning ". Mia replied almost whispering.
" Why are you always sad. Am not a bad person, you can open up anytime you need me. You need to be happy, you are only 13, with a bright future ahead, you are free from the awful orphanage. You are the most prettiest person I have ever seen. I don't get it why you cover yourself with a hoodie. You are so special and that's why I chose you, I will make sure you continue with your studies. Its fine if you don't want to go to school, I will homeschool you. Am a retired teacher." Greta said with a motherly voice.
"Prettiest? Special? How? Everyone used to ran away from me." Mia said showing no emotions.
"Its because you were born different," no one else can be compared to you", Greta said.
Mia eventually felt more comfortable around Greta."Let's take tea, someone will be here to eat lunch with us, a boy your age, he is 13 years too".Greta told her
" Sigh... " It did not go well with people her age. She suddenly ran upstairs.
"Mia? Please come back. Greta called for her